Addis Ababa, 4 March 2022 (ECA) – President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Collen Vixen Kelapile, has implored Africa’s development partners to act on the mantra of cooperation and multilateralism as the continent recovers from the COVID pandemic.
Mr Kelapile was speaking at a presentation on Africa’s sustainable recovery from the COVID 19 crisis and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063. The event is part of the African Regional Forum for Sustainable Development (ARFSD) in Kigali, Rwanda.
“As many in Africa still wait for their first dose, advanced economies are on the verge of completion of vaccine rollout programs accompanied by boosters, in some cases. The uneven distribution of vaccines is of serious concern and a glaring affront to the principle of global solidarity,” Mr Kelapile said.
He added that “the often overstated mantra of no one is left behind is not being met with actual action. Therefore, it is imperative for our development partners to do much more to renew commitment to multilateralism.” ECA’s Chief of Systems-wide Coherence & Quality Assurance Section, Demba Diarra, summarised the financial burdens for African countries as they look to build forward better from the pandemic.
“In 2014, only four African countries were at high risk of crisis. Today, we have 17 countries at high risk of debt distress. Projected GDP growth of 3.9% for 2022 will be very little to address these challenges, unfortunately,” he noted. In mobilizing support for an African recovery, UNEP West Africa Office Head, Angele Luh-Sy, expressed her outfit’s commitment to “support efforts of reform toward the establishment of green fiscal policy tools.”
Ms Luh-Sy pointed out that recovery must remain in line with the SDGs and the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and COP 26, adding that “economic revival and a long term sustained recovery is not possible without investing in green economies.”
This ARFRSD is an annual multi-stakeholder platform organized by the ECA and the host government, this year, Rwanda, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and other entities of the United Nations Systems. This year’s main event will be held from March 3 to March 5, 2022 on the theme ‘Building forward better: A green, inclusive and resilient Africa poised to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.’
Issued by:
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Economic Commission for Africa
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